Cigarette container



Nov. 7, 1933. A. F. REILLY 1,934,629

CIGARETTE CONTAINER Filed Deo. 1. 1931 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 l y resiste rTEr CIGARETTE CONTAINER Alfred F. Reilly, North Attleboro, Mass., assigner to Evans Case Company,

North Attleboro,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 1`, 1931. Serial No. 578,230

4 Claims. .'(Ci. 20G-w41)` This invention relates to` case constructionand more particularly. to cases adapted to hold ciga rettes, cigars, and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to proladys handbag, with minimum possibility of accidental opening. Another object is to provide a device of the character described which may be simply and effectively opened, necessitating the application of a minimum yopening force. Another object is to provide a device of the lcharacter described which may be inexpensively, rapidly and economically manufactured and which is consistently dependable'in its action and thoroughly practical in actual use.' -Another object is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character which may be embodied in such compact and attractive form as will make it possible to easily incorporate the device in, for example, a set including other articles of similar appearance. yOther objects Will be in .part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention vaccordingly yconsists inthe features of construction, combinationsvof elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplied in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated inthefollowing claims. f In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible` embodiments.

of my invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cigarette caseras opened and Iheld in th'ehand,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device, and

Figure v3 is a sectional view asseenalong the line 3-3 of Figure-2,

Similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views in the drawmg-. f

As conduciveto a clearer and more ready understanding of certain features of my invention, it may at this point be noted that theusual known type of cigarette case has two sections which are fastened together by means of fa hinge and are urged apart usually at the hinge section by means of a stili spring, the force of which may be conveniently applied against arms or presser elements likewise hingedly mounted fand which in turn apply pressure at interior-points adjacent the opening edge of the container sections; the arms additionally'serve to hold andmaintain the cigarettes, cigars, and the likein rm relation with respect to each other and to the interior wall or face of the case section. The case is maintained closed by means of a latch element usually mounted on the opening edge portions of the case sections. The latch, in such constructions, must be of relatively large size and great strength to hold the sections together in opposition to the action of the spring against the various rubbing andl jarring actions encountered in actual practical use.y Suchr a latch requires the application of undue or excessive force in order that it may be released andthe case opened to permit access to the contents thereof and oftentimes is an obstacle to its use, particularly by women. One of the dominant aims of this invention is to provide a cigarette case which may be easily and conveniently opened with the application of slight force to permit access to its contents while at the same time insuring that it will not accidentallyvopen as a result of the Vvarious rubbing, jarring and other actions met with in practical use.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, there is shown at l() a section of my case which may be of any'suitable size or shape or material adapted to receive cigarettes, cigars, or the like. For illustrative purposes, the case section l0 is preferably made of suchmaterial and of such dimensions as to receive, for example, some ten cigarettes. There is shown at 11 a second section preferably similar in formand dimensions to that -of section 10 and it also is ladapted to hold a similar number of cigarettes. lThe sections 10 and 11 are preferably connected together by means of a hinged structure generally shown at 12, which hinged portion is fashioned from alternating ears 10X, ly, and 102, and 11X, lly, and l1Z respectively eX- tending Afrom the sections l0 and 1l, these ears being bent or looped over to receive a hinge pinr 13 (see Figure 2). The hinge pin 13 may be suitably maintained in its proper position as, for example, by slightly expanding or bending its end portions which slightly protrude from the hinged portion of the sections.

AThe hinge portion l2 is preferably of such total length that the hinge pin 13 does not protrude beyond the upper and lower edges of the case sections as seen in Figure 2, thus minimizing the possibility of the hinge pin catching 105 in or tearing the pockets, clothes, or the like, of the user. f

The casesections 10 and ll are respectively provided with arms or presser members 14 and l5 which, as seen in Figure 1, arepreferably 110 hingedly fastened or connected to the hinge pin 13. These arms may be conveniently and are preferably made of a stiff material such as brass which may yieldably press against and urge the cigarettes, illustratively shown at 16, against the inner face or wall of the containers.

The arms 14 and 15 are preferably cut away as at 17 and 18 to permit a spring 19 to extend a suitable distance along the hinge pin 13 and at the same time prevent too great a displacement of the arms 14 and 15 from a substantial mid position of their respective case sections 10 and 11.

The end portions 20 and 21 of the coil spring 19 respectively lie over and engage or hook into perforations 14l and 15L of the arms 14 and 15. Thus spring pressure is readily applied to the arms 14 and 15 in a simple and direct manner.

The spring 19, prior to its assembly with the other parts of the device, is preferably given such tension and is so mounted with respect to the arms 14 and l5 that it firmly presses these arms against, for example, the cigarettes 16 (when the case is partially filled) or their tip portions 14b and 15b against the interior of the case sections (when the case is empty). As a result of the action of the arms, the case sections 10 and 11 are urged apart toward an open or unfolded position under the action of the spring 19 which, as previously noted, must be of such size and strength that the arms or presser elements 14 and 15 exert a sufficient pressure upon the various cigarettes 16, particularly when both sides of the case are full, that the cigarettes are firmly maintained in their respective positions to prevent injury thereto and so that the case can be snapped open quickly in spite of the mass of cigarettes to be moved.

The opening edge of the case section 10 is so formed as to provide a plurality of hinge sections 22, 22h, and 22C, illustratively shown as three in number, which are adapted to cooperate with the hinge sections 23a, 23h, and 23C of a case section 24. The cooperative relation between the several hinge sections is conveniently maintained by a pin 25 having its end portions slightly projecting and slightly bent or expanded to prevent displacement of the pin.

At this point is might be noted that the case sections 10 and 11 are so formed at their respective edges that upon closing the two sections against the action of spring 19 a reasonably tight fit is maintained. The opening edge of the section 11, or that edge parallel to and most remote from the hinge portion 12, is preferably indented as at 11c so that the cooperating edges 10@l and 11d and edges 10e and 11e may firmly contact with each other. Thus a tight closure of the vcase is effected in a simple and practical manner.

The portion of case section 24 that overlaps the closed case sections 10-11 (see Figure 2) is preferably semi-circular in form and is adapted to snugly t or lay against the outer surface of the case section 1l (see Figure 3). The portion of section 24 adjacent the hinge 22-23 is preferably so curved (see Figure 3) that its inner surface 24@A adjacent the hinge portion contacts or mates with the outer curved surface 11a adjacent tlie opening edge of the case section 11. A knob or button 26 is secured, as by riveting, to the case section 24 and is positioned adjacent its edge portion opposite or most remote from its hinge portion 22-23. The knob 26 is preferably enlarged at its tip portion 26a and coacts with a hole or perforation 11b provided in the case section 11 near or adjacent the hinge 12.

In closed position (Figures 2 and 3), button 26 snaps into the hole 11b, the yieldability of the material, such as sheet metal, of which the parts aremade facilitating this action. The fitting or holding together of parts 26 and 11 need be achieved with only a slight force; in fact, only a small fraction of the force of spring 19 need be exerted. This is because of the great leverage ratios through which the force of spring 19 is exerted at the point where the fastening 26-11b is effective (see the cross-section of Figure 3). Thus, for example, also, the case section 24, acting about hinge 22-23 as a fulcrum and pressing against the opening edge 11a of the case section 11 at 24a, (a point which by reference to Figure 3 is seen to be adjacent the hinge 22-23 has the comparatively long arm between hinge 22-23 and the latch structure 26e-11b. As result of the great mechanical advantages obtained in the closure, the latch 26a-11b need exert but a relatively small force of resistance in order to close or keep the case firmly closed against the relatively stiif spring action tending to open the case.

The case may be quickly and effectively opened by exerting a slight upward pressure against the tongue or protruding portion 27 of the case section 24 (see Figures 2 and 3). The latch is quickly and conveniently released and the case snapped open as shown in Figure 1 to quickly permit access to the contents thereof.

In use also, the section 24, aside from achieving real advantagespas those noted above, serves as'a convenient part to grip in the hand (see Figure 1) after the part 24 has been released from part 11, whence the spring 19 swings parts 10 and 11 apart and into the convenient position shown in Figure 1.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention a device in which theobjects hereinbefore noted, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved. It will be seen that the device is simple and compact in construction, thoroughly effective and dependable in operation and use, and lends itself to rapid and economical manufacture. Moreover, it will be seen that the device readily lends itself to a wide range of ornamentation and attractiveness of design yet is well adapted to meet the varyingconditions or hard practical use.

As many possible embodiments .may bemade of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative? and not in a-limiting sense.

I claim: v

1. In a device ofthe character described, in combination, a pair of hingedly mounted case sections, a pair of hingedly mounted arms each extending within the interior of said case sections, spring means urging each of said arms to contact the respective interiors of said case sections to hold said sections in open or unfolded relation, a section hingedly mounted to the opening edge of one of said pair of sections, and latch means associated with said last mentioned section remote from the hinged mounting thereof sections when said sections arel in said closed` position, and latch means associated with said extension and one of said sections to hold said extension down in position on said sections when said sections are closed, said latch means beingv SSC- substantially spaced-from the side of said tions remote from the connection therebetween.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing, a section hingedly secured to said casing, said casing and said section adapted to cooperate to retain a plurality of smoking articles, a part, hinge means connecting said part to said section on the side thereof opposite the connection between said section and said casing, said part being of such a length as to extend over a substantial part o the Width of said casing when said casing and said section are closed one upon the other, and a fastening element secured to said part substantially near the end thereof remote from said hinge means and adapted to cooperate with said casing to hold said casing and said section in said closed position.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing part having hinge portions formed on two opposed edges thereof, a second casing part substantially corresponding in outline to said rst casing part and having hinge portions on one of its edges interiitting With the hinge portions on one of the edges of said first casing part, pin means extending through said inter'ltting hinge portions to hingedly connect said first casing part to said second casing part, said first casing part and said second casing part adapted thereby to fold together and into a closed position to form a container, a plate-like part having hinge portions formed on one of two` opposed edges thereof intertting with the other hinge portions on said rst casing part, pin means extending through said last-mentioned hinge portions to hingedly connect said plate-like part to said first casing part, said plate-like part being of sufficient dimension in a direction away from its hinged edge to extendover and overlap a substantial portion of the surface of said second casing part when said casing parts are in closed position, latch means on said plate-like part positioned near one of said opposed edges thereof and hence spaced from the other of said edges whereby said latch means is given a long lever arm equivalent to the said spacing thereof from said other edge, catch means on said second casing part positioned to cooperate with said latch means to connect said plate-like part to said second casing part when said three parts are in overlapping position, and spring means associated with said first casing part and said second casing part and adapted to urge said parts into an open position against the holding action of said latch and catch means.

ALFRED F. REILLY. 

